Pinterest for Writers

Projects and recipes I find on Pinterest don't always turn out so well - like this pumpkin-duct tape book report project my son brought home.  Even if I've had a few pinterest failures,  that hasn't stop me from trying out new things or from spending hours and hours on searching for ideas.   I love Pinterest, but not just in my personal life, but also in my writing life.


In terms of writing, I like Pinterest for two reasons:


1. Writing advice - need I say more?
The advice is often short, sweet, and to the point.  Everything I want is at my fingertip and can be saved to my board!

2. Pictures!!!!
Lots and lots of pictures that I can use to help bring my setting and characters alive.  Having those visual images in my front of me can really help sharpen the details of my writing.


So, love it or hate it. Pinterest can be another tool for writers.  Happy Writing!

Get walking to get writing.

For years people have told one of my best friends that she should write a book and she so should.  She finally gave in and started writing.

 I'm so thrilled!!! I have one more person in my life with whom I can talk about writing.  Extra bonus she and I worked on portion of concept one morning and it was exciting to a part of it and I was so happy to be a help - however small.

The other morning, we discussed her progress.  I was interested to learn that she (like me) enjoys going for walks to help her develop her ideas.  For me walking is not only a great way to get inspired, it helps me to invoke all my senses and for some reason, the movement just seems to get those ideas flowing.

So yes, just sitting down and writing is important, but getting up and moving around helps too.  And of course so does getting out there into the real world and living a little.  You know - keep it real.

Thus, I end with this encouragement - write, walk, and keep it real.

                                                                                                                                                                 

Wow. Just, wow.

If you've read some of my older posts, you probably know I've been lacking on the writing  motivation front.  It's not that I don't love my WIP - I do. It's just that I'm tired. After two years of diligently writing, revising and submitting WHERE THE STAIRCASE ENDS, I was in major need of a break. So I took one. And ever since then I've been writing at a snail's pace.

But every now and then I have a moment of pure inspiration, usually triggered by reading a book that's so well written it makes me get off my @$$ and write. (Most recently this happened while reading Maggie Stiefvaten's The Dream Thieves. So. Effing. Good.)

But a few week's ago my inspiration came from an unexpected source - Youtube.  My husband sent me the below video and all I can say is...wow. Just, wow.  It's such a great reminder that words are for more than stories - they can be cause for change. For expelling emotion. For bringing real world problems to life in a relateable way. For making people stop and take notice.

So without further ado, here is my most recent cause for writing motivation. I hope you're as moved by her vivid words as I am.

In case you need the direct link, click here.

Happy writing!

The Genius of TED

I happen to be in love with TED (the lecture series not the profane stuffed bear). Especially when I'm procrastinating. Especially when I get to hear talks about how to whip up a great story, or what it's like to be a teenager. Here are a few of my faves for the next time you want to be inspired:

Pixar genius Andrew Stanton talking about the clues to a great story: http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_stanton_the_clues_to_a_great_story.html

Neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore on the development of the teenage brain:
http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_jayne_blakemore_the_mysterious_workings_of_the_adolescent_brain.html

THE Amy Tan talks about where creativity resides by saying brilliant things like "We all hate moral ambiguity in some sense, and yet it is absolutely necessary. In writing a story, it is the place where I begin." : http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_tan_on_creativity.html?quote=287

Wish I could've seen all of those live, but did get to attend a local TED x event.
If there's one near you, you may want to check it out!